Brassiere cup



J. L. MAY BRASSIERE CUP Oct. 13, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 15,1958 INVENTOR. JAMES I.. MAY

ATTORNEYS J. L. MAY

BRASSIERE CUP Oct. 13, 1-959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 15, 1958 FIG. 5

FIG. 7

INVENTOR. JAMES L. MAY

u-MW ATTORNEYS United States Patent I 2,908,275 BRASSIERE cur. James L.May, Irving Tex. Application July 15, 1958, Serial No. 748,720

3 Claims. 01. 128-425) Another object of the invention is to support thenon-nursing breast in such a way as to prevent stasis of lymph and bloodin the lateral quadrant of the breast. The lateral and lower quadrantsmay be supported in such a way as to bring the breast more up and in fora more attractive and revealing upper bust line.

According to the invention, the cups for the right and left breasts aremirror images of each other, each cup being shaped with a relativelysmall convex central area to accommodate the nipple or the nipple andits areola, this central area being surrounded by a wider area some ofwhich is convex and some of which is concave, as hereinafter described.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be hadto the following description thereof, and to the drawing, of whichFigure 1 is a perspective view of a brassiere embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the left cup of the brassiereshown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a diagram of the sectors of material which are ready to bejoined together along their edges to make a cup like that shown inFigure 2;

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 2, shown on a larger scale;

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of a modified form of a brassierecup;

Figure 6 is a diagram of sectors to be joined to make the cup shown inFigure 5;

Figure 7 is a front elevational view of another modified form of theinvention; and

Figure 8 is a diagram of sectors to be joined to make the cup shown inFigure 7.

As indicated in Figure 1, the brassiere 10 embodying the invention maybe of conventional form except for the cups 12 and 14 which cover andsupport the breasts, and the arrangement of the supporting straps 16 and18 which go over the shoulders of the wearer, the straps being attachedto the cups at points slightly more spaced apart than on theconventional brassiere. The cups 12 and 14 are attached to a band 20which is of customary shape, the novelty of the invention residing inthe shape of the cups themselves.

The cup 14 for the left breast is hereinafter described in detail and isillustrated in Figure 2. It can conveniently be made of suitable softinextensible material, such as one or more layers of cotton broadcloth,by cutting out five sectors according to patterns and joining the edgesof successive sectors as hereinafter described. The resulting cup ischaracterized chiefly by the con- 2,908,275 Patented Oct. 13

cavity of the lower half and the outer side portion. The inner and upperportion of the cup, amounting to little more than a quadrant, has theusual convexity. The concave portions provide more effective support forthe breast than does the conventional convex cup, the lower half andouter side portion of the breast being compressed and elevated by theshape of the cup. In some cases, more particularly the extra large sizesof cups for nursing breasts, the convex upper and inner portions of thecup may be made of elastic or extensible fabric preferably having aresilient two-way stretch for the purpose of preventing overextensionand consequent stasis. Modified forms of the cup hereinafter described,have lesser areas of concavity.

The particular shape of the cup can best be described and understood bythe steps by which a cup can be formed, though it is to' be understoodthat the inve'n tion is not limited to this particular way of makingthe'cup; Figure 3 shows five sectors A, B, C, D and E which can be madeby cutting a circular piece of cloth or vother suitable material intofivepieces and shaping thepieces according to the patterns shown. Actualsizef patterns for one size of cup may conveniently be'in'ade bystriking a circle on paper with a radius of 7.5 cm. From a point about 1cm. below the center of this circle draw radial lines making angles atthe point of 105, 50, 60 and 55. Trace the irregular sectors thus formedon another sheet of paper and modify the radial lines as indicated inFigure 3. It will be noted that adjacent side edges of successivesectors are mutually symmetrical,

that is, they curve equally toward or away from each other. When themargins along such edges are joined together to make a seam, theportions of the edges which are convex toward each other, as for exampleat 22, result in a convexity of that area of the cup. If the edges areconcave toward each other, as at 24, that area of the cup is concave. B,C, D and E thus determine the shape of the cup. Thus, the cup for theleft breast has a central convex area 26 a little below the center ofthe cup to receive the nipple or the nipple and its areola. Surroundingthis central convexity are concave areas A, B and C, and convex areas Dand E. The concave areas comprise the portion of the cup below ahorizontal line extending through the center of the central convexity26, as indicated at 28 in Figure 4, and the adjacent outer portion up toa radial line inclined at about 60 to the horizontal. The sectors arepreferably made of flexible, inextensible material such as one or morelayers of broadcloth, except that in the very large sizes, the sectors Dand B may be made of elastic fabric.

The cup by its shape and without the use of pads or other devices givesproper support to the breast from below and on the outer side.

The cup for the right breast is similarly made except that it is amirror image of the cup illustrated on the drawing.

The modified form of cup illustrated in Figure 5 has the usual convexityexcept for the outside lateral quadrant A'. To obtain the desired shape,four modified quadrants A, B, C and D' are cut as indicated in Figure 6.The seaming together of concave opposed edges 24' results in quadrant Abeing concave, while the seaming together of convex opposed edges suchas 22' produces convex areas on the cup, as indicated at B, C and D' inFigure 5. The opposing edges of the quadrants are all convex near theapices of the quadrants, as at 25'. These convexities result in a convexcentral area 26 in the finished cup of suflicient size to receive anipple and its areola when the brassiere is in use.

In like manner, quadrants A", B", C" and D" may The contours of thesectors A,

mutually opposed edges seamed to form a cup as shown in Figure 7 withthe outer and lower quadrants A and B" concave, the inner and upperquadrants C and D. being convex. This cup also has a central convex'areato receive a nipple and its areola,.the convexity 26 resulting fromconvex portions 25 of opposing edges near the apices of the quadrants.The cups illustrated in Figures 5 and 7 are for a left breast. Chips forthe right breast are mirror images of these. v

In each of the foregoing cases, the outside lateral portion of thebreast is given extra support by the con cavity of the portion of thecup on which it bears. The condition of the breast will determine towhat extent concave support will be furnished for the under side of thebreast.

I claim:

1. A brassiere having right and left cups which are generally convex andare of inextensible sheet material, each said cup having anapproximately circular periphery, a relatively small convex centralarea, and an area surrounding said central area, said surrounding areaof each cup consisting of an inner portion adjacent to one ofsaid cupsand an outer portion remote from the other of said cups, the outerlateral portion of said surrounding area being concave.

2. A brassiere having right and left cups of inextensible sheetmaterial, each cup having a central convex area, and a circular areasurrounding said central area, said surrounding area of each cupconsisting of an inner portion adjacent to one of said cups and an outerportion remote from the other of said cups, the lower half and anadjoining sector of the outer portion of said surrounding area beingconcave, the remaining portion of said surrounding area being convex.

3. A brassiere cup as described in claim 2, said concave portioncomprising the area below the horizontal diameter of the cup and theadjoining area terminated by a radius making an angle of about with saiddiameter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,031,124 France Mar. 18, 1953

